The purchase of the $10,000-plus thermal imaging camera was made possible by a grant through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The foundation was founded by the owners of Firehouse Subs, brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, in 2005 after they toured the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. The brothers knew a need existed to help those in emergency services, Jacquelyn Gubbins the Foundation Coordinator said.

The grant to the ORFD was made recently at the Oak Ridge Firehouse Subs shop, 1143 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Suite 109. In addition to Waldo and Gubbins, Oak Ridge Fire Chief Darryl Kerley and local Firehouse Subs franchise owner John Sloane attended, as did more city firefighters but they had to leave unexpectedly — on an emergency call.

Kerley said that Waldo was instrumental in writing the grant for the new camera, which will replace an older, outdated camera. The new purchase brings the total number of thermal cameras the department owns to five.

“There is a camera on every truck,” Waldo said.

The camera can be used to detect people trapped inside buildings and can “see” through walls. During a demonstration of the camera, Kerley placed his hand on his chest then removed it. The camera showed the image — or the heat of — his hand on his chest, although the hand had been removed.

The camera “sees” through objects by detecting heat sources that are hotter than the ambient air temperature. Waldo said the camera cannot see through glass or water, however.

Not only can this be used to find victims, it can also save the lives of firefighters and prevent fires. While pointing the camera at the ceiling, Kerley told Sloane that if he had any overheated electrical connections they would appear in the camera.

Sloane and his restaurant were declared safe by Kerley — much to Sloane’s relief.

The camera, an Elite E380, can either be worn on a fireman’s coat or handheld with the attachable pistol grip. The company who makes the camera lists it as the “next generation” in thermal imaging cameras on their website.

The Foundation also donated $10,200 dollars in life saving equipment to the Roane County Sheriff’s Department through another public safety grant. Gubbins said that the department received first aid kits and six automated external defibrillators (AEDs). An AED was recently used at Anderson County High School to revive a student whose heart had stopped beating.